Partial knee resurfacing (PKR) is a surgical procedure for relieving arthritis in one compartment of the knee. With PKR, only the damaged surface of the knee joint is replaced, helping to minimize trauma to healthy bone and tissue.

A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain and disability among adults. A torn rotator cuff will weaken your shoulder. This means that many daily activities, like combing your hair or getting dressed, may become painful and difficult to do.

Ankle Fractures, Sprains, and Tendonitis

The ankle is prey to sprains, fractures, and tendonitis. Although ankle injuries are commonly viewed as sports injuries, an injury to the ankle can occur from an activity as simple as walking on an uneven surface.

Types of Ankle Injuries

To determine the type of ankle injury, Dr. McLennan will have to examine your joints, ligaments, and tendons to assess potential damage to these areas. He specifically looks for one of the following conditions:

A sprain is defined as damage to ligaments that connect joints. When the exerted force exceeds the range of motion of a joint the ligaments are injured. They are graded:

Grade 1—Minimal tearing

Grade 2—50% tear

Grade 3—100%

A common ankle sprain occurs to the outside of the ankle.

A strain is defined as damage to muscles that cross joints and attach by their tendons to bone. When the exerted force exceeds the range of motion of a joint the muscles or tendons are injured. They are graded:

Grade 1—Minimal tearing

Grade 2—50% tear

Grade 3—100%

Common areas for ankle strains are the Achilles and Peroneal tendons. When the muscles or tendon become inflamed, they are known as myositis or tendonitis. Tendons may tear or dislocate.

An ankle strain occurs when the peroneal tendons, which act to stabilize and protect the ankle, become inflamed due to overexertion or high-impact trauma. The symptom of inflamed tendons is also more commonly referred to as tendonitis. This can also result in tendons rupturing or sliding out of place.

Ankle fractures occur when the ligaments and tendons fail to protect the ankle from low to high velocity forces. The ligaments, muscles, and tendons are injured in various grades in addition to the bone, The ankle can be unstable and even dislocated.

How to Identify Your Ankle Injury

The most important condition to realize when identifying your injury is that symptoms of a sprain and fracture are very similar. It’s important to have Dr. McLennan evaluate your knee as soon as possible for extensive damage and treatment advice. The following are common symptoms that raise red flags for potential ankle injury:

Swelling or bruising of the ankle

Pain

Inability to bear weight or walk on injured ankle

A common distinction between a sprained ankle and a fractured ankle is that a sprained ankle will be stiff, while a fractured ankle is tender to the touch, affect weight bearing or has a slight to obvious appearances of deformity.

The symptoms of strains of muscles or tendons are pain, swelling or instability of the affected area. On the other hand, the symptoms of tendonitis will include:

Sporadic or persistent pain

Weakness

Swelling

Treatment Options for Ankle Injuries

The best immediate treatment for an ankle injury is to follow R.I.C.E: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Rest: an important integral part of preventing further damage to the ankle by relieving weight from the affected area.

Ice: The immediate use of ice will assist in reducing swelling and easing pain due to the numbing effect the ice provides. For best results, ice should be applied within 48 hours of the injury in 15-minute increments followed by a grace period of 40-45 minutes before reapplying the ice — continue as needed. Make sure to not apply the ice directly to skin — use a towel between your skin and the ice.

Compression: Immobilizing the affected area by applying an elastic bandage to compress and support will quicken the healing process and prevent further damage.

Elevate: the standard rule is to elevate the affected area parallel to your heart to reduce swelling and pain.

Fractures can be treated either conservatively or surgically depending on the seriousness of your case. If the ankle is stable and the bones are not out of place, immobilizing the ankle may be all that is necessary. If unstable, the fracture will have to be treated surgically. In some cases, a metal plate and screws will be applied to hold the bones in place. Once the operation is complete, a brace will be applied to immobilize the ankle until swelling has diminished. This process can typically take at least six weeks for bones to heal and take as long as two years for mobility to be completely restored.

Treatment for sprains or strains depends on the severity of the injury. Severity can be referenced as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild and moderate injuries require the following: R.I.C.E; immobilization – such as splints, casts and boots; physical therapy, and possible surgery.

A Higher Standard of Orthopedic Care: Dr. Jon G. McLennan

Jon G. McLennan, MD brings to the table his expertise of over 30 years in the field of Orthopedic Surgery. He possesses an extraordinary eye for detail and passion in his work authoring over twenty-five peer-reviewed publications, providing insightful, educational presentations on the subjects of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and developed numerous surgical devices and unique techniques that have revolutionized the field. If you would like to learn more about how Dr. McLennan can change your life, schedule a time to speak with him at his La Quinta, CA location or call (760) 771-4900.